Publication year
2013
Citation Title
Childhood antecedents of incarceration and criminal justice involvement among homeless veterans.
Journal Name
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
Journal Volume
83
Issue Number
4
Page Numbers
545-549
DOI
10.1111/ajop.12050
Summary
Researchers assessed whether family instability, childhood conduct disorder, and childhood abuse were correlated with criminal justice involvement or incarceration in a sample of homeless Veterans. Childhood conduct disorder was associated with both criminal justice involvement and incarceration. Family instability and childhood abuse were not associated with either outcome.
Key Findings
Forty percent of Veterans had experienced child abuse.
Veterans reported being incarcerated for an average of 9.3 months in their lifetime.
After controlling for other variables, childhood conduct disorder was correlated with incarceration, criminal charges, and convictions.
After controlling for other variables, childhood family instability and childhood abuse were not associated with criminal justice involvement or incarceration
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer support programs for Service members with a history of conduct issues or childhood abuse to reduce the risk of future trouble with the law
Provide education to military parents regarding effective discipline skills to prevent child abuse among military personnel
Distribute information to military families about conduct disorders and ways to promote positive development and cope with behavioral issues
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend screening for childhood conduct disorder at accession
Recommend providing families of incarcerated Service members with services designed to promote family stability
Recommend education for professionals working with military families who have a child coping with conduct or behavioral issues
Methods
Data were collected from a combined national observational data set and experimental data set from Veterans participating in the housing support program between 1992-2003.
A convenience sample of Veterans was interviewed once prior to enrollment in the housing support program, and again every three months thereafter for one year.
Validated survey instruments were used to assess childhood conduct disorders, criminal histories, and childhood family instability.
Participants
The sample included 1,161 homeless Veterans.
The average Veteran age was 42.9 years old (SD = 8.0 years).
Nearly all Veterans were men (95%); a large proportion of participants were Black (48%).
Service branch data were not provided.
Limitations
The study does not test for a possible correlation between childhood abuse and either childhood conduct disorder or family instability, which could influence the results.
The cross-sectional research design does not allow for causal inferences to be made.
The population consists of a convenience sample that may not be representative of homeless Veterans in general.
Avenues for Future Research
Examine indirect pathways between childhood abuse/family instability and involvement in the criminal justice system
Consider whether children with conduct disorder may be more attracted to the structure and discipline of military life
Explore which situational stressors interact with childhood conduct disorders to increase the risk of criminal justice involvement among Service members
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Although criminal justice involvement and incarceration are common problems for homeless veterans, few studies have examined childhood risk factors for criminal justice involvement among veterans. This study examined the association between three types of childhood problems, family instability, conduct disorder behaviors, and childhood abuse, and criminal justice involvement and incarceration in adulthood. Data from 1,161 homeless veterans across 19 sites participating in the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program were examined. After controlling for sociodemographics and mental health diagnoses, veterans who reported more conduct disorder behaviors during childhood tended to report more criminal charges of all types, more convictions, and longer periods of incarceration during adulthood. However, the variance explained in criminal behavior by childhood was not large, suggesting that there are other factors that affect the trajectory by which homeless veterans become involved in the criminal justice system. Further research is needed to intervene in the pathway to the criminal justice system and guide efforts to prevent incarceration among veterans. Although criminal justice involvement and incarceration are common problems for homeless veterans, few studies have examined childhood risk factors for criminal justice involvement among veterans. This study examined the association between three types of childhood problems, family instability, conduct disorder behaviors, and childhood abuse, and criminal justice involvement and incarceration in adulthood. Data from 1,161 homeless veterans across 19 sites participating in the Housing and Urban Development–Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program were examined. After controlling for sociodemographics and mental health diagnoses, veterans who reported more conduct disorder behaviors during childhood tended to report more criminal charges of all types, more convictions, and longer periods of incarceration during adulthood. However, the variance explained in criminal behavior by childhood was not large, suggesting that there are other factors that affect the trajectory by which homeless veterans become involved in the criminal justice system. Further research is needed to intervene in the pathway to the criminal justice system and guide efforts to prevent incarceration among veterans.
Abstract Document
PRTW Document
Attach